Oh, Spring! The snow in melting, and the sun is shining- or maybe it’s raining and gloomy… or you just got dumped with another foot of snow. Well, the weather might not be cooperating yet, but there is one thing that unites the spring experience for all chicken lovers, and that’s the sound of peeping […]

Chickens Reimagined Chickens are egg-producing, garden-aerating, composting, fertilizing, little machines, i.e. the natural workhorses within a holistic system. Yet their multiple benefits for the homesteader are often overlooked. When designers plan an all-inclusive or permaculture property, they often “stack functions” by looking at… well… how to kill two birds with one stone.  Or how to […]

Making the most of your farm or homestead doesn’t always mean growing more plants or raising more animals.  Here are some ideas about adding value to your place through agritourism.  Enjoy this excerpt from Farms with a Future: Creating and Growing a Sustainable Farm Business by Rebecca Thistlethwaite. Permission from Chelsea Green publishers. It’s not easy […]

This is a companion piece to Liz Fulghum’s article Low-Maintenance Backyard Chickens. Here Liz provides detailed equipment lists and instructions for building a low-maintenance food and water system for your backyard chickens. This DIY food and water system is ideal for a backyard flock of 3 to 6 chickens and for busy urban homesteaders with […]

Chickens provide free compost, fresh eggs, and are extremely helpful garden assistants by turning up soil, eating insects, and keeping weeds at bay. They’re part of the perfect garden trifecta: fruit and vegetables, chickens, and bees. They’re also wonderful on their own, without bees or dedicated vegetable gardens. So if you have some extra space in […]

Chickens are a great addition to any backyard farm or garden and a practical chicken coop will keep them safe. They have amazing personalities and can be good companions. Once you’ve tried their fresh eggs, you’ll never buy another supermarket dozen. Chickens (and other poultry) can give your kids great lessons in responsibility as they […]

How to help combat the summer heat in your flock? Chickens, like so many other animals, have a hard time dealing with drastic climates. Whether extreme cold or heat there are a few things you can do to help them be a little less miserable. Try adding a few of these DIY projects into your […]

Reduce•Reuse•Recycle Wanna make tote bags from your feed bags? It can be any feed bags you have available, chicken, dog, sheep, rabbit, goat, horse, or even cat. Here is easy step by step directions. 1.) I wanted my finished bag 13″ tall. So, I measured 13” + 2″ for top hem + 4″ for a total […]

Did you know that chickens are becoming one of the most popular pets in the US? Their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years and it’s no wonder why. They’re child-friendly, inquisitive, make great pets and also lay eggs. If you’re ready to join the chicken craze, keep reading and learn how to build your own […]

In this series, I’m going to break down the five most important parts to setting up a quality brooder for chicks. In part one, information was given to hopefully help you choose your brooder, now a heat source needs to be chosen. There are some exemplary options out on the market today. Most of the […]